STATE OF RAJASTHAN Vs. KARAM SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a triple murder case in which Babu Singh, his wife Mst. Bachan Kaur and their son Jagar Singh are alleged to have been done to death by gun-shots in the course of the same transaction by the accused-appellant Karam Singh, who has been sentenced by the learned Sessions Judge, Sri Ganganagar, to death under Sec. 302, IPC.

(2.) The accused has filed appeal from the conviction and sentence, whereas the learned Sessions Judge has made a reference to this Court for confirmation "'of the sentence of death.

(3.) The prosecution case is that the accused Karam Singh is the cousin of the deceased Babu Singh. Karam Singh was not married, but he eloped a woman of some other community. She too had died about a year before the occurrence. After her death, ' Karam Singh used to take his food at the deceased Babu Singh's house. It is alleged that about a month before the occurrence, the deceased Babu Singh and his wife Bachan Kaur discovered that the accused was indulging in debauchery. They had three unmarried daughters in their house, namely Mst. Jaito PW/2, aged about 19 years, Gurdeo. Kaur PW/3, aged about. 18 years and PW/12 Prakash Kaur, aged about 17 years, and therefore, they, thought that it was not in their interest to allow Karam Singh to frequently visit their family. Consequently, they stopped giving food to the accused. This was the cause of annoyance of the accused. It has been suggested in the course of evidence led by the prosecution that the accused had an evil eye on the young unmarried daughters of the deceased.